138 evacuated from rain ravaged Kinnaur

Shimla, Jun 25: The state and IAF choppers today evacuated over 130 persons stranded at various places in rain ravaged Kinnaur district, raising the total number of people airlifted so far to 1,395.During the rescue

PTI [ Updated: June 25, 2013 21:57 IST ]

138 evacuated from rain ravaged kinnaur

Shimla, Jun 25: The state and IAF choppers today evacuated over 130 persons stranded at various places in rain ravaged Kinnaur district, raising the total number of people airlifted so far to 1,395.

During the rescue operation, 95 persons were evacuated from Sangla, 18 from Gaybang, 16 from Pooh, 9 from Peo and one from Hango.

Majority of the outsiders and tourists have been evacuated and focus has shifted to local people and dropping of commodities at various place still cut off by road, an official said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) P Mitra who chaired meeting officers in Kinnaur, directed them to speed up restoration works in the district.

As per the information provided by Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur, J M Pathania, 200-300 persons were still stranded which included local people who had gone to attend functions of their kith and kin in different parts of the district and elsewhere.

Pathania said that besides the helicopter of the state government, three helicopters of Indian Air Force had been pressed into service for airlifting the stranded people.